I was able to achieve my dreams," Bouchard played the final match of her career against Bencic in Montreal
Eugenie Bouchard has now retired. The 31-year-old Canadian, who had announced she would end her professional career after the WTA 1000 in Montreal, was defeated in the second round in Quebec.
After her victory against Emiliana Arango in the first round, the 2014 Wimbledon finalist fell to Belinda Bencic. The Swiss player, ranked 20th in the world, had to work hard to advance to the round of 16 (6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in 2h15).
After the match, Bouchard addressed her home crowd one last time on the court, first in English and then in French, and appeared tearful during her speech as she thanked her family.
"I’ll try not to cry. It’s so special to play my last match here, on this court in Montreal in front of you. I remember coming here as a little girl with the dream and hope of one day playing on this court.
I grew up playing here and on all the other courts around Montreal. It feels like everything has come full circle. Tennis has given me so much. I feel so grateful to this sport and to all the people who have supported me over the years.
I want to thank my family: my mom, my dad, my sisters, and my brother for all their sacrifices and unwavering support. I want you to know that when the crowd cheers for me, they’re cheering for you too. I wouldn’t be here without you.
I’d also like to thank all my coaches, physios, and fitness trainers, as well as everyone I’ve worked with throughout this long journey. I don’t need to name you all—you know who you are.
Thanks to your hard work and help, I was able to achieve my dreams. I think this just shows how lucky I’ve been, so thank you all.
(In French) Finally, and perhaps most importantly tonight, I want to thank you, the fans. Your passion is incredible. The way you support someone from here is something I’ll never forget.
I’m so grateful for everything you’ve given me over all these years. This isn’t goodbye—I’ll be back, but in a different version of Eugenie. Thank you, I love you.
